Ryder Cup debut looms for Welsh star Jamie Donaldson at Gleneagles

Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was in Florida this month to run the rule over his Ryder Cup hopefuls at the PGA Tour’s Players Championship and took time out of his schedule to track down the 38-year-old Welshman for a pep talk

He's all but nailed on to give Wales more memorable Ryder Cup moments at Gleneagles in four months time – but if Jamie Donaldson needed any further impetus to finally hammer home a spot in the star-studded European line-up it came from a simple pat on the back from captain Paul McGinley.

The Dubliner was in Florida this month to run the rule over his Ryder Cup hopefuls at the PGA Tour’s Players Championship – dubbed the unofficial fifth Major – and took time out of his schedule to track down the 38-year-old Welshman for a pep talk.

It was just the affirmation Donaldson needed – if 24 glorious money-making months on both sides of the Atlantic hadn’t convinced the Pontypridd-born star he was ready to take a sip out of golf’s Holy Grail that is the Ryder Cup.

It’s not that McGinley doesn’t know what he’s getting having Donaldson on his European team.

He’s been a long-time admirer of the player, who has battled back injuries, that once threatened his career, to finally join golf’s millionaire jet-set.

And the world No.30 was a stellar performer for the Irishman in 2011 contributing three-and-a-half points from a possible five when McGinley led Great Britain and Ireland to a three-point Seve Trophy victory over Continental Europe in France.

And only in March, Donaldson against showed his aptitude for team golf, contributing two-and-a-half points from a possible three as Miguel Angel Jimenez led Europe to a 10-10 draw with Asia in the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

It merely added to Donaldson’s growing reputation as a team player and gives the Orlando-based Welshman a hunger to satisfy north of the border at the greatest golfing event on the globe.

“I spoke to Paul earlier this month in the States and he was very good encouraging me and giving a pat on the back to keep up the good work,” said Donaldson.

“That’s what I am trying to do every week and take it as it comes.

“I know if I stick to that, the Ryder Cup door should open for me. I’m in a good position at the moment but then there is so much more to achieve before I can even think about qualifying for Gleneagles.

“So I also need to focus on them and not get excited about possibly playing in my first Ryder Cup.”

A cash-laden end to 2013 and more big cheques this year has all but sealed Donaldson being the first Welshman teeing it up in the Ryder Cup since fellow pride of Pontypridd Phil Price famously took down then world No.2 and current Open champion Phil Mickelson at the Belfry in 2002.

And the man who ended a title drought on the European Tour spanning 255 events over more than a decade when winning the Irish Open two years ago, is adamant his three month spell in the United States playing on the PGA Tour has made him a better player.

In March, he accepted special temporary membership of the PGA Tour after finishing second at the Cadillac WGC event in Miami and that was followed by his best finish at the US Masters when coming in tied 14th at Augusta.

“I’m happy with the way it’s gone out in the States,” said Donaldson, on a whistle-stop trip back to Britain last week for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where he threatened to make a title charge over the weekend only to fall back last Sunday, finishing tied 30th and bumping up his bank account to the tune of €39,425.

“There’s always parts to improve, but for my stretch out here last year, which was poor by the standards of this year, within a year I’ve moved on a lot.

“I’ve competed in world events and now get to play in the big events on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Donaldson will be back in America next month for his second appearance at the US Open before returning home for the Open at Hoylake in July.

But he’s already planning to spend more time on the other side of the Atlantic next year.

He added: “It was my job to come out to America and compete more than I did last year.

“I’ve done that in the big events like Doral and like the Masters, and I’m just trying to keep improving all the time.

“It means I came back to Britain a lot happier with what I’ve achieved in that three month stretch over in America.

“Plus it’s always nice to play in the heat for a decent stretch.

“And to stay in Florida with what is perfect practice facilities, you know, it’s very different at this time of the year.

“At home now all the courses will be coming on and the facilities there will be great.

“But it’s just nice to be able to do it somewhere where you’ve got a long period of time doing it.

“Next year will be back playing a few more events.

“And I’ll probably start earlier back in the States.”

Donaldson found his return to these shores something of a shock, swapping the Florida sunshine for an at-times soggy Surrey.

“I’ve been spoilt being in America because out there the weather seems perfect all the time,” added the 2013 Abu Dhabi champion.

“It was waterproofs out after three holes in one round at Wentworth.

“And coming back from America to play here does make a little bit of time change to get used to, the jet-lag and stuff.”

Donaldson is back in the Sunshine State to tee off preparations for the US Open at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina next month before heading back to his home in Cheshire for the Open in July at nearby Hoylake.

And if everything goes according to plan, his next big venture over the Pond will be the Ryder Cup.

And McGinley would be delighted to have the Welshman on board.

“Jamie is a guy whose career didn’t ascend to the heights very quickly, but he’s put a lot of work in and eventually got himself into the world’s top 50 which is the all-important thing,” McGinley, told me at last summer’s Wales Open at the Celtic Manor Resort.

“He’s a player who has all the potential to play Ryder Cup for me.

“He’s good enough and hopefully he’ll carry on having a good season.

“If he makes my team in Gleneagles I would very much welcome him as part of the European set-up.

“To be honest I’m a little reluctant to say too much about Jamie, not wishing to put too much pressure on him.

“All I can say is he was a wonderful member of my Seve Trophy team who took to team golf like a duck to water.

“I put him out in the first game and he rose to the challenge for me every time.

“If he plays well enough and makes the team, I’ll be delighted to have him on board.”

Donaldson’s is currently in second spot on the European points qualifying list and seventh in the world points rankings.

It means currently the Welshman would be joined by France’s Victor Dubuisson, Dane Thomas Bjorn, English duo Justin Rose and Luke Donald, Spain’s Sergio Garcia, 2013 European No.1 Henrik Stenson, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and German Martin Kaymer with McGinley having three wild-card choices.

It leaves the likes of 2010 Celtic Manor hero Graeme McDowell, Ryder Cup battler Ian Poulter and English ace Lee Westwood having work to do to avoid sweating on a captain’s pick.

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